Monthly Archives: May 2016

Every year thousands of consumers get sued by debt collectors. Beating a debt collection lawsuit is easier than most people realize. Most of the time, the biggest issues people face are their own shortcomings. Legal strategies are great, but they serve no good when people are paralyzed by fear, anger, sloth, envy or a number of deadly sins regarding dealing with debt collectors.

1. Sloth

The number one mistake defendants make when they are sued for a debt is giving up. Doing nothing is a form of sloth.

Failing to respond to a summons and complaint, is most certainly the number one reason why most people lose and have default legal Judgments entered against them. On the other hand, responding to a lawsuit opens the door to many promising things, like stopping collections, wage garnishments or a levy (taking money from your bank account).

Even if you owe the collector money, a two-sentence response simply denying liability to the lawsuit filed in court will tilt the scales in your favor. Always do your best to consult a lawyer, first. Even so, filing a response to the lawsuit is called an “Answer,” with the Clerk of Court, is generally the easiest first step to take. Check your timelines on this. Some jurisdictions only allow 10 to 20 days to respond after service of process, which also means after the defendant receives a notice and summons. Keep an Answer simple and to the point. Never ever make an admission.

Ask your Clerk of Court questions about the forms used to file an Answer or how to file an Answer. Typically, Clerks are super helpful but keep in mind that they are never allowed to give legal advice.

Give up sloth. Put one foot in front of the other, seek legal help and file an Answer with the Court and your chances of winning increase exponentially!

2. Pride

Debtors who give up on Collections lawsuits almost always have regrets. Life after answering the notice and complaint involves a little bit more than simply showing up. But it’s not that difficult. One of the things that must be done is to challenge the collector’s ability to sue. However, a defendant can never challenge anything effectively when pride gets in the way.

Pride steps in and wreaks havoc with our positive energy. Pride opens door to excuses as to why we can’t or don’t want to move forward. Pride paves the way for doing nothing.

The term, “Standing” means the legal right to sue. Some collectors, also known as debt buyers, or junk debt buyers, often buy debt for pennies on the dollar. They try to file lawsuits (or sue) against debtors to collect money on the debt that they buy. When asked, collectors must prove that they have the legal right to collect. Without the legal right to sue, debt collectors lack standing. Standing is typically shown by a transfer or assignment of the original, signed credit card agreement from the initial creditor to the debt collector or debt buyer. Many don’t have a signed transfer agreement. Many don’t have a signed, initial credit card agreement. When when the collector doesn’t produce a proper assignment or agreement, or the document they produce is inaccurate or not an original, a defendant can ask for the case to be dismissed, because of “lack of standing.”

Asking the Court (Judge or Magistrate) to dismiss a case, based on lack of standing or lack of chain of custody of paperwork is usually pretty straightforward. Your lawyer will help you. Chain of custody means that the collector must prove that they are, in fact, the ones who were transferred the initial signed agreement.

On a few occasions, I’ve noticed judges look at the paperwork collectors provide and comment, “you must be joking.” On the other hand, some judges look at the paperwork and think, “It’s all good.” It’s not always easy to tell the results, at least in Massachusetts. Every jurisdiction is a little different. If challenges aren’t raised, like a challenge to standing, the lawsuit is lost, plain and simple.

In essence, even when the effort is made to attend a debt collection lawsuit, pride can strangle all positive energy and be a reason for making excuses for not demanding the debt collector show you why they have any legal authority to ask you to pay them money.

3. Greed.

I’ll never understand why defendants never challenge the amount owed on a debt. Seriously, greed is more common than most people realize. Often human beings become so greedy with time and energy, they can’t even ask simple questions. Challenge the accuracy of the calculations on the debt and combat being paralyzed by greed.

When your lawyer, or you, choose to challenge the accuracy of the debt, the Judge or Magistrate will require the debt collector to show the original signed documents and all the paperwork. This means that the paperwork must prove the balance of the debt, from the first day to the present. Every defendant has a right to know how an amount allegedly owed is calculated and why. Be vigilant and ask for accurate figures on the debt.

More often than not, debt collectors miss documents or miscalculate and are not accurate. Because debts typically change hands multiple times, it is very likely there will be some errors in the figures and documents. If there are errors in the case, a defendant may ask for the case to be dismissed.

In a 2015 news article, a former employee of a major creditor mentioned that as many as a quarter of the files showed incorrect amounts owed. If the credit card issuers can’t provide accurate documentation, there’s an excellent chance you will win.

4. Wrath.

Yes, debt collectors make us mad. However, many people get so angry that they do nothing. Anger (like most negative emotions) paralyzes us from doing the right thing. It’s easy to change this negative emotion by talking to your lawyer and by making solid plans to challenge the lawsuit against you in a timely manner. Don’t let wrath, or any other negative emotions kill positive energy.

In Massachusetts, in most cases with a few exceptions, creditors have a maximum of six years to collect on most credit card (revolving) debt. Other states and jurisdictions are different. Ask your lawyer about the Statute of Limitations in your jurisdiction.

The Statute of Limitations is an awesome defense to have in your legal defense tool box, so to speak. Sometimes, collectors don’t stop collecting and taking people to court, even after the Statute of Limitations has run out. The reason is because debt collectors are hoping and assuming people don’t want to be bothered and they won’t show up in Court. This is true. But defendants who raise the Statute of Limitations defense will typically win. With a solid Statute of Limitations defense, the Court will recognize that the debt can no longer be collected upon and, like magic, a Court will dismiss a collections lawsuit.

It is important to know how to legally apply this handy dandy tool. Also, paying or agreeing to pay on an old debt may start the Statute of Limitations clock ticking all over again. Never pay on an old debt without first consulting a good lawyer. If the Statute of Limitations has expired, and it is used properly and timely as a viable defense, a collector stands a good chance of losing.

Tame the wrath by fighting fairly and civilly. Wrath turned around and channeled into controlled, positive, motivated beneficial action is a very good thing, indeed.

5. Gluttony.

Plain and simple, most everyone has the right to take action against collectors, but they don’t. This could simply be a matter of gluttony? Perhaps. Retaining paralyzing feelings of grief, powerlessness, becoming overly indulgent in thoughts that are self-critical, are negative negative feelings. Self indulgence is a form of gluttony. Gluttony is crippling. The negative energy of gluttony gets in the way of taking positive action.

There are rules and laws, under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) that may turn the tide in your favor and help you to turn gluttony into positive energy. If you have consulted a good lawyer, chances are that you may be able to discuss the odds of getting a good money award from a debt collector if they violated any part of the FDCPA. People who successfully sue for violations of the FDCPA may be entitled to receive from the collector, statutory damages of $1000, plus punitive and economic damages, and even attorney’s fees and costs. Extra money is always a welcome bonus! This is also a good reason to hire a good consumer defense and bankruptcy attorney who can help.

Pity and self-gluttony have no place if you want to win a lawsuit. Snooze and you lose. This is the very thing debt collectors are counting on.

6. Lust.

Lust is a big one. Have you ever been around someone who loves themselves so much, they think they can do things all by themselves, when they really need help? It is very important to become a smart consumer and know when to find help. Smart people tend to kick lust to the curb. Call a professional to get the best results possible. In other words, bring out the big guns.

Once a collector is notified that you are represented by an attorney, it’s usually all over. Most collectors are more than anxious to settle a debt, out of court, rather than fight over it with a lawyer. Hesitating hiring a lawyer will only serve to reduce your chances of winning, significantly.

Attorneys who regularly take these types of cases will typically offer a free consultation. On some occasions, they may represent you for free if they think the collector has broken the law. This is because the attorney will expect to collect their fees from the collector. Most people don’t know this.

Lust has no place for winners. Fighting a legal battle with expert help makes sense.

7. Envy

Most people think Bankruptcy is for “those” people. If you really believe that Bankruptcy is for those pitiful people who have no common sense or self control, or for people who want to take advantage of the system, guess again. Bankruptcy laws are designed so that fraudulent claims are virtually non-existent. Furthermore, some of the most successful people in our country legitimately and legally have filed successful Bankruptcy Petitions, for very good reasons.

Everyone makes mistakes and goes through struggles in life. How people overcome and manage those struggles makes all the difference. In the US today, we are lucky enough to have Bankruptcy law. Think of Bankruptcy as a beneficial tool, a way to move forward, unlike envy that will hold most of us back.

Bankruptcy often is the best solution because it will not only give a person a fresh start, Bankruptcy will also stop all collections. The day a Bankruptcy Petition is filed with the Court, a person will be protected from all collection efforts by something called an “automatic stay.”

See if Bankruptcy is an option suitable for you. A good lawyer will be happy to guide you to make the very best decisions for you.

Tip: Monitor your credit scores and credit reports from time to time to see where you stand. You are entitled to one free annual credit report from all three major credit reporting agencies, each year. Search on the Internet or ask your lawyer or certified public accountant (CPA) how to obtain a free credit report and do this, annually.

Being paralyzed by any of these deadly sins happens to the best of us. Indulging in any one of these things will greatly reduce the odds in your favor. Vigilance, by taking action now, is your best path to success.

ABOUT ME: Attorney Kelly is an attorney in good standing, licensed to practice in both the Federal District and State Courts of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Her law practice is focused on consumer debt, finance, bankruptcy and District Court matters. Attorney Kelly is experienced in both criminal and civil trial work. On a personal note, Attorney Kelly enjoys writing and other things, like conservation and agriculture.

NOTICE: This is an Advertisement. This post is not legal advice. Consult your attorney. Attorney Kelly does NOT provide legal advice to anyone via social media or anywhere over the Internet. Any and all electronic posts and writings, by Attorney Kelly, does NOT establish any type of attorney-client relationship, whatsoever, neither perceived, actual, material, implied or other. We can not stress enough, if you need personal legal advice, always see your attorney. Do not rely upon Attorney Kelly’s posts, writings or any Internet information on websites or social media for your own personal legal advice. Seek legal advice and representation from your own personal attorney.